The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-08
A LETTER CARRIER THIEF.
ALEXANDER FERGUSON CAUGHT BY
U. s. DETECTIVE WILLIAMSON.
The Louisiana State Lottery Company
and Messrs. Graves g. Mahaffy the
Principal sufferers-The Early Bird
Catches the Worm once Too Often.

lie who steals cash intrusted 10 the care
Of Urclc Sam may do so with impunity for
a brief period, but as certain rs fate one OF
the many lynx.cyed detectives who serve
their country so faithfully will catch him,
and at a time when the thief least expects
IT, The postolliccs in the larger cities are
prolific fields for such thicving operations
among untrustworthy employees.
For several months past Postmaster
fowlkes has been annoyed by complaints
by j, l.. Gillespie, agent Of the Louisiana
State lottery here, and Graves 4 Mahaily,
publishers Of the Baptist, that money or
den sent TO them never reached their dcs-
,nahon. The postmaster went shcwdly
TO work to detect, Il possible, the thief,
and after n careful investigation concluded
that the thoits were being perpctritcd by
Alexander VI. Ferguson, Col0rcd, letter
carrier No. o. who delivers mail on Second
street north Of Madison street. The post
master sent ior Inspector j. u. William
son, OF the Atlanta division Of the posloihcc
service, whose headquarters are nj Rir-
mlngham, Ala. The inspector arrived on
Friday last and went quietly 20 work ON
the ease. What first aroused the post
masters suspicious as to Ferguson was the
information that ho was the first Of the
carriers TO arrive nj the posioilicc in the
morning 10 arrange their mail for delivery
The carriers being required TO get there ~
early as O'Clock, Ferguson generally got
there tbout 4.3O o'clock, preceding by a
half hour his fellow carriers. Thc.boXrs
In the superintendent Ol mails office
arr numbered consccuiiycly from one up-
ward. The mail box for carrier No. II,
Of course, alongside that OF No. u. Car.
ricr No. delivers the mail 10 Gillespie
and the Baptist concern. The inspector
being acquainted with these facts, il was
arranged by the postmaster for the in.
spcclor 10 enter the building about the
time that Ferguson was tO come in. and
By misplacing the small window from lis
gooyc in the superintendent office, the
Inspector could slide Il back and
have full view 81 all inside
opcmiions unobscrvod. Ferguson had
been pointed ont 10 Inspector Williamson
by the postmaster, and ON Tuesday morn.
hig hc was at the superintendent window
and there saw Ferguson, or one he took 20
be Ferguson, open a letter, but not being
entirely sure of his man, and content with
the knowledge that the operation would
le repeated 10y the thief, besides being
dcsirUus ui having witness to the then,
he postponed the afcst until ycsierlay
morning IS he entered The building hc
asked Waichman Reagan II any Of the
carriers had come in aud the watchman
replied: "fCpmon has come, but
there y nothing wrong about him." TAX.
ing his stand at the arranged win
dow, With the wuichman near hy.
the inspector waited, and in "A
few minutes nw Ferguson going through
the box 81 carrier No .. lie took the let.
tiers ont, and shutting them over picked
ont such ~ be- desired. five Ia all, directed
90 u J.. Gillespie lie tore them open.
and The inspector saw him pull the money
nom three OF them, put Il In his vest
pocket, aud then shuIc the lcilon in his
eide pJuis pocket. Tho other two lac
opened, but seeing thcp were postal
money orlor in them. be- did not pnll the
contents out, but showed them also In The
same pockct
The Inspector after watching this much
Of the robbery, told tie Waichmnn token
his eye on DE man through the window.
while be- opened the door aud went in.
A. hc walked around 10 where thc thicf
stood he wa- greeted hy him with n Good
morning s.r; what DO YOU wanig' Tho
Inspector said, II believe your name l.
Ferguson f' Receiving an Affirmative ~.
ply be continued 81 am pos,uilicc la.
tpccior and have been watching Won for
several mornings. Let me have thosr LET.
tciH saw yuu Int ir Your pocket, and the
money. You took ont Of them Ferguson
SEEMED dumb stricken for the moment.
AMI the inspector started 10 search him.
when hc, partially recovering. said. Of
have The Letters in this pocket: herr thoy
arr" Al Of the letters were dip,ricd Ia
1i.lcspic. Ono 81 Thorn contained -.
and two Of them 81 each. in cash
The olhru money orders Ferguson brokr
completely down, and acknowledged that
hc bad htIu ulllng the luiirr, Ia Gillespie
ahd Graves q MahaiN ior i've or SIX
monks pI,' llg could give no estimate
oi now much his siOalings amounted Ia.
saying that hC bad spent the money ns he
Stole ~ Inspector Williamson made am
affidavit against him Tor stealing money
from The mails, and in change Of Assistant
United States Marshal Smith he WIS iakon
before Commissioner Clough and hold to
answer IN ihc sum Of s2,OuO. ferguson h
hHght mnlatto, twyuty.iour wears old.
ana MAS appointed by Postmaster smith In
aay, 1851 lie wears huge diamond.
aIes.es hncly, and is regarded among his